Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Children Quitting School to Mine Diamonds

Children in Liberia are leaving school in
increasing numbers to mine diamonds, and the government is threatening
to crack down on the illegal employment of children in digging the gems.
Fifteen-year-old Mike Coleman dropped out of school five months ago
to search for diamonds in western Liberia. "Things are difficult on my
parents, so I came out here to look for money," said Coleman. "They were
sorry when I left the classroom, but I have no options.
So I am here looking for a better future. I hope to find a diamond soon."
Coleman is not alone.
Liberia's Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy estimates that at least
1,500 children are currently employed by Liberian diamond mines.
The principal of Morpue Junior High School in western Liberia, Nora
Quae, says more than 200 students dropped out this year to work in the
diamond fields.
"Fifty percent of our students have abandoned school," she said. "They have abandoned the class ...
This is an embarrassing situation. The future of Liberia depends on the youth.
The youth must see reason to go to school and prepare themselves for
their future." Work in the diamond mines is difficult and dangerous.
It is also a lucrative business.
Liberia's unemployment rate is near 85 percent, and the World Bank
estimates 95 percent of the population lives on less than $2 a day.
The prospect of earning $50 for each diamond found is too good for many people to turn down.
While it is illegal to employ anyone under the age of 18 in diamond
mines, many mine operators are willing to hire children because their
bodies can fit into the narrow tunnels and tight spaces of the mines.
Thomas Wleh runs the Liberia Mining Entity in western Liberia.
He said a worker is a worker, no matter their age.
"Well, we do not force the young people," Wleh said. "They come to our office and sign a diamond contract to work for us.
We are hiring people who are capable of searching for diamonds.
I think the government, through the Ministry of Education, must put in place a measure to keep the students in school.
We are here to work and make profit."
The U.N. Security Council helped impose a ban on the mining and
export of so-called "blood diamonds" in Liberia in 2001, at the height
of the county's civil war.
This helped cut down on the number of children in the mines.
But after the election of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the United
Nations lifted the ban in 2007, and the diamond mines have again begun
to flourish, increasing the demand for young workers.
Liberian parliament member Gertrude Lamin says Liberian youths must
take it upon themselves to leave the diamond mines and take advantage of
the country's free education system.
"Diamond mining is not the future," said Lamin. "What will they get from mining?
You get today to get small money, but tomorrow is not your future.
You need, Liberian students, you need to come back and go to school.
You must leave mining because tomorrow you will be old, and you will ... have nothing and that will not carry you anywhere."
The west regional coordinator for Liberia's Ministry of Lands, Mines
and Energy, Stephen Gbana, said the Liberian government has been made
aware of children working illegally in the mines. He said the government
has threatened to revoke mining licenses, shut down mines and take
legal action against any mining company that is found to be employing
school-age children.